Bruce Weber announced today the hiring of former Illini Jerrance Howard as an assistant coach, according to a press release issued Wednesday via fightingillini.com.

A native of Peoria, Ill., Howard played point guard from 1999 to 2004 with such former Illini as Dee Brown and Deron Williams.

“We are thrilled to have Jerrance join our staff and welcome him back home,” Weber said. “Jerrance has tremendous passion for the University of Illinois and our basketball program. He connects with everyone, his attitude and personality is

contagious, and he’ll work tirelessly to develop relationships on the recruiting trail.”

Howard has previously worked at Texas A&M; under head coach Billy Gillispie where he was an administrative assistant, according to the press release.